Friday, December 5, 2008

Emily Dickinson leather journal

Here is another of my "moon" journals that I've been making for my Etsy shop (see my previous post for more about these). This one has a quote by Emily Dickinson:

"The moon upon her fluent route defiant of a road --"

Here's what it looks like:

I used turquoise moroccan goatskin for the cover. The reverse side of the leather has a lovely mottled look. I had decided to use a 19th century Japanese print of the moon to go along with the quote, and when I was rummaging around in my leather collection, I realized that the colors of this leather matched the print. I was unreasonably excited to discover this :) To me, the colours of the leather, together with the print and quote, create a sort of otherworldly effect that I think Emily would approve of...

In my limited experience dying wool, I never heard of a natural dye that would give that kind of color. Minerals? Maybe but unlikely.Indigo? not turquoise. Other plant? Different processes dying wool and leather, maybe.

But if I were you I'd ask again. So many people want to hear "natural dyes" that it becomes the "easy" answer.

EJ, maybe I was too trusting--it's been known to happen...and he seemed like such a nice bookbinder :D

...mystery solved--I just did a search on the Oasis goatskin, and according to Talas bookbinding suppliers (a very reputable company) these hides are vegetable tanned, then aniline dyed. My leather supplier must have heard "vegetable tanned" and thought the whole process was all natural. Live and learn...